Turbine pump



Jan. 17, 1933.

G. E. BIGELow TURBINE PUMP Filed May 51. 1927 '2 Sheets-Sheet Irl/ll. l!! (lll. llllll- .ZN r/.E/y'of: 650,965 E 5/ FLOW fg TOF/MEX G. E. BIGELOW TURBINE PUMP Filed My 51. 1927 www Jan. 17, 1933.

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E770/@Mfr i maat GEORGE E. BIGEIOW, F HUNTINGTON PARK, CALIFORNIA.

TURBINE PUMP Application med May 31,

My invention relates to vertical turbine pumps, and particularly to pumps which are adapted for elevating water or oil to the surface of the ground.

The ordinary centrifugal pump construction consists of a pump unit which is located at the bottom of a well. This pump unit consists of a shell having chambers in which impellers are adapted to rotate. A column pipe 19 extends from the pump unit to the surface of the ground, and extending from the pump unit inside the column pipe 'is a pump shaft. At the surface of the ound is a pump head to which the shaft is connected, and by means of which it is rotated so as to drive the impellers of the pump. Such centrifugal pumps operate very successfully in shallow wells. but in deep wellsthey have failed because of the fact that the pump shaft will stretch and the 2 impellers are thus allowed to drop into engagement with the lower walls of the im-` peller chambers, cutting away both the walls and the impell'ers.

It is the main object of my invention to provide a centrifugal pump which is adapted for deep well use.

My invention, described briefiy, consists of a turbine pump unit having a turbine motor disposed immediately above it. The turbine motor is operated by fluid which is delivered thereto from the surface of the ground. There have been other pumps of this general nature, but they have had no success for the following reason:

The fluid for operating the turbine motor has been supplied to it downward from the upper end and therefore exerts a down thrust on the rotor thereof.

The weight on the shaft which extends through the pump unit and through the turbine motor is carried by a thrust bearing. The thrust bearing is capable of supporting the weight imposed thereon by the column of liquid being elevated to the surface of the ground but is unable to withstand this weight plus the weight resulting from the downward thrust of the fluid on the rotor of the turbine motor.

r lt is an object of my invention to provide "o a deep well centrifugal pump of the nature 1927. Seria No. 195.258.

mentioned in which the thrust of the Huid operating the turbine motor will tend to decrease the load on the thrust bearing of the mechanism.

One difficulty with such pumps in the past has been that the thrust bearing has worn out very rapidly.

It is correspondingly an object of my invention to provide a turbine operated centrifl ugal deep well pump in which the thrust bear- 30 ing will have a long life..

Wooden radial bearings are generally used in deep well centrifugal pumps but these wear out rapidly due to the well liquid carrying abrasive material into these bearings.

Another object of my invention is to provide a deep well centrifugal pump in which a' radial bearing thereof is protected to prevent any abrasive material getting into the bearing.

Other objects and advantages will be made apparent in the following description and in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner in which the pump of my invention is installed therein.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating the details of the pump.

Figs. 3 and 4 are horizontal sectional views tafkn on the'correspondingly numbered lines 89' o 1g. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed view illustrating the improved sand paclng of my invention.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken 85 on the line 6--6 of Fig. 5.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 10 i indica-tes a well which may be an oil or water well in which a casing 11 is disposed. The upper end of the casing 11 projects above the 90 surface of the ground and is provided with a. casing head 12 into which an operating -iiuidsupply pipe 13 having a pump 14 is connected so as to communicate with the interior of the casing 11. The usual vertical hole is protitiL vided centrally in the casing head 12 and a pump tubing 15 passes through this hole and extends downward inside the casing 11. A. fitting 16 is provided on the upper end of the tubing 15 whichy connects the tubing with a 100 pipe 17 which may lead to any suitable storage for pumped liquid, not shown.

rlhe pump tubingFl is diagrammatically shown as unitary in ig. 1, but may be formed 5 inthe usual manner of any number of sections, the lowermost of which is belled to form a tubular motor housings 20 which supports the motor-pump 2l of my invention at a suitable depth in the casing 1l. The motor housing 20 is internally threaded at its lower end and threadedly receives a base member 2.2 of the motor 23 of the motor-pump 21 so that an annular space. 24 is formed between the motor 23 andthe housing 20.

The motor 23 has a tubular motor shell 25, the mouths of which are threaded, the lower mouth being screwed downward upon an uppermost neck 26 of the base member 22. A head member 27 is screwed into the upper mouth of the shell 25. A series of tubular inserts 30 are of such diameter as to fit slidingly into the shell 25', these inserts having an aggregate length so as to be held com-- pressed together by Contact of the endmost of the inserts 30 4with the neck 26 and the head member 27 when these are screwed into a shell 25, as shown. Bae walls 31 having suitable openings therein are formed upon the inserts 30 to project inward in radial planes 'at suitablev intervals.

A motor pump shaft 32 extends vertically substantially throughout the length of the motor pump 21, and a plurality of turbine runners or wheels 35are suitabl keyed to the shaft 32 so that these wheels will rotate with `the shaft within the spaces intervening between the baffle walls 31. The head member 27 is provided with a central chamber 36 into which the upper end of the shaft 32 projects and in which it is journalled by a suitable wooden bearing 37 in a manner well known in the art. A plug 38 isprovided in the upper end of the head member 27 for the introduction of lubricant into the chamber 36. Holes communicate between the interior of the shell 25 and the interior of the upper portion of4 the motor housing 20.

The base number 22 has a central chamber 44 through' which the shaft 32 passes and in which is disposed a wooden bearing 45 lwhich journals the shaft 32. It is particularly desired to prevent sand reachlng the wooden bearing 45 and the means for4 accomplishing this may be described with reference to Fig. 5. Annular packing rings ,48 and 49 which are identical and of channel cross-section are inverted in the chamber 44 beneath the wooden bearing 45, the rings 48 and 49 being separated by a free ring 50. A ring 51 of the same size and shape as the ring 50 is .disposed beneath the packing ring 49 and is rformed integrally with a collar 52 which is secured byfa set screw 53 to the shaft 32 so as to ro-v tate inthe mouth of the chamber 44. If any or ports 40 are provided in the head 27 which Lacasse liquid, carrying particles of solid matter,

attempts to force its way upward 'into the into' Huid-tight contact with the shaft 32 and the surface of the chamber 44 respectively. Thus fluid is practically prevented from passing upwardly into the bearing 45.

The packing rings/ 48 and 49, the rings 50 and 51 and the collar 52 constitute a compound packing 60. Although it is not absolutely necessary, a chamber 61 may be formed inthe upper portion of the base casting 22 of the same 4diameter as the chamber 44 and a compound packing 62 may be extended, into the chamber 6l, as shown in Fig. 5, the packing 62 being identical with the packing 60.' Thus the bearing 45 is completely protected vfrom infiltration thereinto of water carrying abrasive matter.

A tubular pump housing 65 encloses the motor 23 so as to form an annular space 66 above the juncture of the pump tubing 15 and the motor housing 20 and is provided with a packer 68 at this point which forms a fluid-.tight seal between the pump housing 65 and the well casing l1. The lower portion ofthe pump housing 65 has a counterbore -70 which forms an annular shoulder 71 in the interior of the housing 65. The lower end of the casting 22 is cylindrical in shape and forms a flange 72 which snugly fits the counterbore 70 and bears upwardly against the shoulder 71.

A ump body 73 includes a plurality of identical inserts 74 which are placed end4 to end and inserted within the counterbore 70,

' the uppermost of these inserts74 contacting the lower face of the Harige 72. Each insert 74 is provided with an impeller chamber 75. A base insert 76 constitutes the base of the pump body 73, and is contained in the counterbore 7 0 of the housing 65 so as to'abut the lowcrmost insert 74. The insert 74 has an impeller chamber 78 formed in its upper portion and a pump fluid vestibule 79 communicating with the impeller chamber 78 and extending downward therefrom. A bearing shell 80 is centrally disposed in the vestibule 79 and is formed integrally with the insert 76 bein connected thereto by vertical webs 81. central chamber 82 is provided in the upper portion of the bearing shell 80 and receives a Wooden bearing 83 1n which the lower end of the shaft 32 is adapt-ed to be journalled.

lil() Lacasse Suitable packing 84 is "held downward in the chamber 82 against the bearing 83 by a collar 85 rigidly secured to thetshatt 32. Yl`he bearing shell 80 is provided with a thrust bearing chamber 88 into which the extreme lower end of the shaft 32 projects. The portion of the shell 80 surrounding the chamber 88 is cylindrical and its mouth is internally threaded to receive a plug 89. A. thrust bearin seat member 90 is formed with a semisplierical upper seat and an anti-friction thrust bearing 91 rests thereon, the lower race p 92 of which bearing has a semi-spherical face which contacts and is complementary with the upper seat of the member 90. rll`he seat 80 supports the bearing 91 and is supported 1n turn by the plug 89.

A chair 9d rests Within the bearing 91 and a central opening 95 of the chair 9st snugly receives an end portion 96 ot the shaft 32. rThis end portion 96 has a smaller diameter than the body of the shaft 32 so that a shoulder 97 is formed at the juncture ot the body ot the shaft with the portion 96 thereof which rests upon the upper tace of the chair 94 so that the weight of the shaft is transmitted to the anti-friction bearing 91. The lower mouth ot the pump housing (i5-1s threaded internally so as to receive a threaded sleeve 98 which compresses the inserts -l and 76 and the ange 72 ot the casting 22 tightly together against the internal shoulder 71 of the housing 65.

rihe thrust bearing chamber 88 is preferably illed With a lubricant such as cup grease.

rllhc motor base member 22 is ot restricted diameter in its central portion so as to form an enlarged annular space 100 communicating With the lower end o the space 86. penings 101 are formed in the casting 22 so as to communicate between vthe space 100 and the interior of the shell 25 at the lower end thereof. assageways 102 are also formed in the base casting 22 Which conimunicate between the impeller chamber 'Z5v of the uppermost insert 74 so that pumped liquid which may be discharged from the uppermost of the chambers 75 Will pass upwardly through the passage 102 into the lovv-V er end of the annular space 2l. Impellers are keyed to the shaft 32 so that one ot these impellers is disposed in each of the chambers T5,y as clearly shown in Fig.

The operation of my Huid motor deep well 'pump is as follows:

The motor pump 21 of my invention is disposed in a lower portion of the casing 11 so that the impellers 110 of the pump are beneath the surface of the water in the casing 11. and so that the packer (i8 substantially seals o'l' the lower portion of the well from the upper portion thereof. Air or any other suitable gas is then forced by the pump 14 into the casing -11 so as to create a gas pressure in the annular space 100 of approximately 400 pounds to the square inch. The pressure of this gas may be more or less than this figure, which is given merely as an example of a workable pressure.

The operating gas passes from the annue lar space 100 through thepassageways 101 into the lower end of the space wit-hin the shell 25 where it is directed by suitable openings in the lowermost of the baille walls 3l against the lowermost turbine wheel 35.

As the shaft 32 rotates., 'the impellers 110` pump the liquid through the successive stages ot the pump body 73 and from the uppermost stage, the liquid passes through the passageway 102 into the lower end of the annular space 24. This space connects with the lower end of the pump tubing 15 into which the pumped liquid passes. rl`he pumped liquid thus passes into the saine space into which the gas is being exhausted from the motor 23. The exhausted gas forms in bubbles and operates in the pumped liquid as an air litt.

lt will be noted that the gas enters the motor 23 from beneath so that its impact against the turbine wheels 35 exerts a considerable upward force which counteracts any downward thrust imposed upon the shaft 32 by the head ot liquid in the pump tubing 15. rl`his jiteature saves the thrust bearing 91 `from excessive Wear so that the pumpof my invention may be run a consid- 'erably longer time previous to drawing the Should this bearing wear to any great extent a whipping ofthe shaft 32 would occur which would cause the impellers 110 to engage the walls ot the impeller chamber 74, thus setting up considerable friction, so-as to Wear out these parts as well as decrease the efficiency of the pump.. f" p `While have described my` novel turbine ist,

pump as being operated by a gas, it is of course understood that a liquid may be used as an operating fluid with equal facility. In

' pumping a water well this would be water casing and said pump housing in fluid-tight A relationship; a pump secured to'said pump housing;

a fluid-operated motor operatively connected to said pump;'a pump tubing ex- 4 tending through said casing, said pump tubing communicating with the exhaust of said v motor and the discharge of said pump; and

means for forcing said fluid -operating said motor between said pump tubing and said well casing.

2.. In a fluid-operated deep-well pump, the combinationof: a pump housing; a turbine pump secured to said pump housing; a fluidoperated motor operatively connected to said pump in said pump housing, there being a space between said motor and said pump housing; a pump tubing dividing said vspace into inner and outer annular spaces, one of said spaces forming a discharge passage for said pump; and means for forcing said fluid operating said motor downward through the other of said annular spaces and through said motor.

3. In a fluid-operated deep-well pump the combination of: a pump housing; a tur ine pump secured to said pump housing; a fluidvoperated motor operably connected to said pump in. said pump housing, there being an annular space between said motor andsald pump housing; a pump tubing dividing said annular space into inner and outer annular spaces, said inner annular space forming a discharge passage for said pump; and means for forcing said fluid operating said motor .downward through said outer annular space and upward through said motor.

4. A combination as defined in claim 3 in which said fluid is in the form of a gas, and including means for discharging said gas which is exhausted from said motor into said discharge passage along with the discharge from said pump. Y

'5. In a fluid-operated deep-well pump, the

combination of: a pump housing; a plurality 'of inserts mounted in said pump housing,

said inserts providingpump impeller chambers; a base member above said inserts; a fluid-operated motor secured yto said base member; turbine wheels in said motor; :i

shaft extending between said turbine wheels and said pump; impellers carried by said shaft in said pump impeller chambers, said base member providing passageways for conducting the fluid pumped by said impellers upward around said motor; a head member above said motor, said .head member journalling said shaft; and a bearing shell below said inserts, said bearing shell containing a thrust bearing adapted to take the net thrust of said impellers and said turbine wheels.

6. A combination as defined in claim 5 including a bearing in said base member for journalling said shaft.

7. In a deep-well pump, the combination of: a pump housing; a turbine pump secured to said pump housing; a base member secured above said-turbine pump; a fluid-operated motor operatively connected to said pump in said pump housing above said base member,

there being a space between said motor and spaces, one of said annular spaces being con- 1 nected to the intake end of said motor through an opening of said base member, and the other of said annular spaces being connected'to the discharge of said turbine pump through a passageway of said base member.

8. In a deep-well pump, the combination of a pump housing; a turbine pump secured to said pump housing; a base member secured above said turbine pump; a fluid-operated motor operatively connected to said Apump in said pump housing, above said base member, there being a space between said motor and said pump housing; and a tubing dividing said space into inner and outer annular spaces, said outer annular space forming an intake passage communicating with the lower end ofsaid motor through a passageway of said base member, and said inner annular space forming a discharge passage for the fluid pumped by said turbine pump.

9. A. combination as defined in claim 8 including means for discharging the exhaust of' said fluid-'operated motor into the rising flow of fluid discharged by said pump.

10. In a fluid-operated deep-well pump, the combination of: a motor housing; a fluidoperated motor positioned in said motor housing; a turbine pump adjacent and operatively connected to said motor; an outer shell around said motor housing and cooperating therewith in providing an annular space through which the fluid operating said motor may pass; and walls forming a space separated from said annular space for conducting the fluid pumped by said turbine pump.

11. In a fluid-operated deep-well pump, the combination of: a motor housing; a fluidoperated motor positioned in said motor housing; a turbine pump below and operatively to said annular space, said fluid entering said motor and moving upward therethrough;

incassa and walls toi-ming a. space conducting huid from said turbine pump upward and around i said duid-operated motor.

combination. of: a motor housing; a

l@ therewith in providing an annularspacein communication with the lower end of said motor; means for supplying an operating fluid to sa'id annular space, said fluid entering said motor and moving upward therethrough; and walls defining ports communicating be- 'tween said motor and the discharge of lsaid turbine` pump for exhausting said duid discharge from said motor into said discharge.

13. lin combination: a casing extending downward into a. well; a ump unit positioned in said well and sea ed in uid-tight relationship with said casing; a llud-opern ated motor adjacent said pump unit and opera-tively connected thereto, therey beingy a space between said motor and said casing; a pump tubing extending downward in said well and dividing said space between said motor andsaid casing into inner and outer annular spaces., one of said spaces forming a passage through which passes the well duid being pumped; and means for forcing the duid operating said motor through thefother ot' said annular spaces.

1d. ln a deep-well pumping unit, the combination of: a. base member including a passageway therethrough; a turbine pump adjacent and secured to one end of said base mem ber and discharging into said passageway;

` operated motor situated in saidmotor housing and operatively connected to said turbine pump, there being a space between said motor housing i and said pump housing through which the 'fluid operating said motor may pass; and a base member providing' openings communicating between said space and the interior of saidfluid-operated motor. 16. ln a fluid-operated deep-well pump, the. combination ot: a pump housing providing a counterbore; a plurality of inserts positioned in said counterbore and providing pump impeller chambers; a base member above said inserts and extending into said ,counterbore; a fluid-operated motor secured to said base member; turbine wheels in said motor; a shaft extending between said turbine wheels and said inserts; impellers carried by vsaid shaft in said pump impeller chambers; a head member above said motor, said head member j ournalling said shaft; and a bearing shell below said inserts and extending into said counterbore and compressed against said inserts, said bearing'shell containing a thrust bearing adapted to take the net thrust of said impcllers and said turbine wheels.

17. ln a 'duid-operated deep-well pump', the combination of: a pump unit positioned in a well; a pump tubing extending upward in said well to the upper end thereof; walls defining an annular space around said pump tubing; a Huid-operated motor operatively connected to said pump unit; means for de-y livering an operating uidto said annular space; walls defining one' or more openings for conducting said operating fluid from said annular space into said fluid-operated motor, said operating iuid moving through said motor to operate same; and walls defining one or more ports for mixing said operating fluid discharged from said motor into the luid pumped bysaid pump unit.

18. 1n a deep-well turbine pump., the com# bination of: a casing extending downward in a well; a motor-pump sealed in fluid-tight relationship with said casing, said motorpump including a motor element operatively connected to a turbine pump; a housing around said motor and separated therefrom by an annular space communicating with the discharge of said turbine pump; a pump tubing extending upward in said casing, there being an annular space therebetween; means tor forcing an operating fluid into said annular space between said pump tubing and said casing; and a base member pro viding passageways therethrough conducting into said pump tubing the iluid discharged from said pump and flowing through said first-mentioned annular space; said base member 'providing one or more openings crossing over said passageways and conducting fluid from said annular space between said pump tubing and said casing into the intake end of said fluid-operated motor.

19. In a deep-well pump, the combination of: a motor-pumpl unit comprising a Huidoperated motor positioned above and operativel connected to a turbine pump, said motor including a motor shell: walls around said motor shell and spaced therefrom to form an annular space through which the fluid pumped by said turbine pump moves upward; and a base member providing one or more passageways through which the pumped fluid moving through said annular space passes, said base member providing openings crossing over said passa eways for conducting operating fluid to the interior of said fluid-operated motor. said operating ico' Huid being discharged from said motor into the upward moving stream of fluid being pumped.

20. A .combinatioin as defined in claim 19 including means for defining another annular space around said walls and communicating with said openings of said base member to supply said operating Huid to said Huid-operated motor.

lo 21. A combination as `deined in claim 19 l in which said base member is positioned between said motor and said turbine pump whereby said operating fluid moves upward- 1y through said motor to set up a thrust counteracting the hydraulic thrust of said turbine pump.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 24th day of May, 1927.

GEORGE E. BIGELOW- 

